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Spain - Wall Decorations

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Item Ships From: Spain
Small Kite Chalk Pastel on Paper by Natalka Stephenson
Located in Madrid, ES
Small Kite interpretation by UK artist Natalka Stephenson Natalka Liber Stephenson received her MA in Visual Communication from the Royal College of Art in London, where she also re...
Category

2010s British Modern Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Diaz Costa Mid Century Modern Ceramic Hand Painted Artwork of Birds, circa 1960
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceramic hand painted artwork of several birds by Catalan artist Diaz Costa, circa 1960. Framed. Signed. In original condition, with minor wear consistent of age and use, preserving ...
Category

1960s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Ceramic

Diaz Costa Ceramic Hand Painted Bird Artwork, circa 1960
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Immerse yourself in the artistic mastery of Catalan artist Diaz Costa with our vintage ceramic hand-painted artwork of a bird, circa 1960. This exquisite piece, framed and signed by ...
Category

1960s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Ceramic

A body and a jacket - art fiber tableau, golden natural fiber
By Gabriela de Sagarminaga Roldán
Located in Bilbao, PV
This craft simulates the fastening of a jacket that fits us perfectly as if it were the creation of a tailor. With unparalleled aplomb upholds the naturalness of the fibers. FEATURE...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Organic Modern Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Natural Fiber, Wood

Tapestry Brutalist Macrame, Spain 1980s
Located in DÉNIA, ES
Modern Design ! Neo Classique ! bohemian decor, macramé wall hangings should be at the top of your list. These lightweight, airy pieces are typically made with natural materials (thi...
Category

1980s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Wool, Cord

Gino Hollander Original Poster from the Hollander Slate Museum Málaga
By Gino Hollander
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Original Gino Hollander poster from the Hollander Museum in Pizarra, Málaga. Made on Gvarro paper. Dimensions: 53.5 x 41 cm - Interior: 44 cm x 31 cm
Category

1980s Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Framed kandinsky Print "Improvisation 7", circa 1990
By Wassily Kandinsky
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Manufactured Spain, circa 1990. Materials: Wood, glass, paper. Dimensions: D 3 x W 61,7 cm x H 76 cm The artwork is in its original condition, showing minor signs of wear consist...
Category

1990s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Glass, Wood, Paper

Large Aubusson Tapestry by Michèle Ray for Robert Four Atelier, France 1955
By atelier robert four, Michele Ray
Located in L'Escala, ES
Large rectangular tapestry in wool created by artist Michèle Ray in 1955. This tapestry name " Le jour et la nuit" is hand made in the most famous tapestry factory in France , Aubusson. Edited by the Atelier Robert Four...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Wool

Gino Hollander Original Poster from the Hollander Slate Museum Málaga
By Gino Hollander
Located in Benalmadena, ES
Original Gino Hollander poster from the Hollander Museum in Pizarra, Málaga. Made on Gvarro paper. Dimensions: 53.5 x 41 cm - Interior: 44 cm x 31 cm
Category

1980s Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Diaz Costa Mid Century Modern Ceramic Hand Painted Artwork of Birds, circa 1960
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceramic hand painted artwork of several birds by Catalan artist Diaz Costa, circa 1960. Framed. Signed. In original condition, with minor wear consistent of age and use, preserving ...
Category

1960s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Ceramic

Wall Kitchen Decor Brass Midcentury Vintage Hanging Tuscany Italy 50s
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
Italian Old kitchen tools or utensils made of wood and ceramin hanging from a hanging bar. Old kitchen appliance Saucepan fork palette and serving pot mace and roller hanging on t...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Other Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Ceramic

Contemporary Painting "Woman in a Doorway" by Manuel Cruz, Spain, 2023
Located in Madrid, ES
Belongs to the Ralph Lauren collection by Manuel Cruz, in which the artist uses the reproduction on paper from his history books of the painting “Woman in a Doorway” by Rembrandt in ...
Category

2010s Spanish Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Wall Sculpture White Contemporary Geometric Totem Brutalist Wood Organic Plaster
By Las Animas
Located in Seville, ES
Territorio 2.3.74 - VI We discovered organic plaster stucco when we arrived at our workshop in Seville. Artisans dedicated to the world of Holy Week in Seville work in the same sp...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Composition

Contemporary Painting "Autorretrato como San Pablo" by Manuel Cruz, Spain, 2023
Located in Madrid, ES
Belongs to the Ralph Lauren collection by Manuel Cruz, in which the artist uses the reproduction on paper from his history books of the painting “Autorretrato como San Pablo” by Remb...
Category

2010s Spanish Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Ceramic Hand Painted Artwork by Diaz COSTA, circa 1960
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceramic hand painted artwork of flowers by Catalan artist Diaz Costa, circa 1960. Framed. Signed. In original condition, with minor wear consistent of age and use, preserving a beau...
Category

1960s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Ceramic, Wood

Man Ray Epreuve de Artiste Photography – Hand Signed and Stamped Masterpiece
By Man Ray
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Immerse yourself in the surreal with this exceptional black and white Epreuve de Artiste photography by the legendary Man Ray. A surrealist portrait of a woman, meticulously framed i...
Category

1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Diaz Costa Mid Century Modern Ceramic Hand Painted Artwork, circa 1960
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceramic hand painted artwork of a colorful landscape by Catalan artist Diaz Costa, circa 1960. Framed. In original condition, with minor wear consistent of age and use, preserving a...
Category

1960s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Ceramic

Diaz Costa Mid Century Modern Ceramic Hand Painted Artwork, circa 1960
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ceramic hand painted artwork of three fishes by Catalan artist Diaz Costa, circa 1960. Framed. Signed. In original condition, with minor wear consistent of age and use, preserving a...
Category

1960s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Ceramic

Contemporary Painting "El Aguador de Sevilla" by Manuel Cruz, Spain, 2023
Located in Madrid, ES
Belongs to the Ralph Lauren collection by Manuel Cruz, in which the artist uses the reproduction on paper from his history books of the painting “El aguador de Sevilla” by Velázquez ...
Category

2010s Spanish Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Contemporary Painting "Sillón Azul" by Juanma Reyes, Spain, 2023
Located in Madrid, ES
Painting by the Spanish artist Juanma Reyes, made over a wooden board using mixed techniques and collage. Juanma Reyes approaches art from a perspective that is clearly far removed ...
Category

2010s Spanish Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Paint

Contemporary Painting "Retrato de Maria Trip" by Manuel Cruz, Spain, 2023
Located in Madrid, ES
Belongs to the Ralph Lauren collection by Manuel Cruz, in which the artist uses the reproduction on paper from his history books of the painting “Retrato de Maria Trip” by Rembrandt ...
Category

2010s Spanish Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Contemporary Painting "Fragua de Vulcano" by Manuel Cruz, Spain, 2023
Located in Madrid, ES
Belongs to the Ralph Lauren collection by Manuel Cruz, in which the artist uses the reproduction on paper from his history books of the painting “Fragua de Vulcano” by Velázquez in w...
Category

2010s Spanish Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

Contemporary Painting "The Banana" by Ana Laso, Spain, 2019
Located in Madrid, ES
Painting made in oil over canvas by the Spanish artist Ana Laso. ANA LASO BAEZA is an artist from Madrid who developed her activity fundamentally as a painter and, for a few years, ...
Category

2010s Spanish Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Canvas, Paint

Pair of Large Spanish Ceramic Decorative Wall Plates, 1960s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Unmatching pair of glazed ceramic wall plates from Catalonia, Spain, 1960s. Each one has a different abstract design with multi color geometric motifs. Large size. Excellent conditio...
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Ceramic

Contemporary Painting "Untitled 1" by Carlota Pérez de Castro, Spain, 2023
Located in Madrid, ES
Contemporary painting by the Spanish artist Carlota Pérez de Castro. Made on canvas using mixed techniques. Carlota Pérez de Castro has been surrounded by artists and creatives her ...
Category

2010s Spanish Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Canvas, Paint

American Indian Head 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
This is a sculpture depicting the head of a Native American crafted from natural materials, imparting authenticity and a connection to the land and indigenous culture. The head, carv...
Category

Early 2000s Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Fruitwood

1980s Elephant Painting on Canvas Design by Jaime Parlade
Located in Marbella, ES
1980s Elephant Painting on Canvas Design by Jaime Parlade
Category

Late 20th Century Indian Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Fabric

American Indian Head 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
This is a sculpture depicting the head of a Native American crafted from natural materials, imparting authenticity and a connection to the land and indigenous culture. The head, carv...
Category

Early 2000s Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Fruitwood

Pareja de cuadros decorativos pintados en lienzo de escena de villa griega
Located in Marbella, ES
Pareja de cuadros decorativos pintados en lienzo de escena de villa griega. Firmados A. Yaniz
Category

Late 20th Century European Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Canvas

Poster of Costa Llobera by Joan Miró, circa 1981.
By Joan Miró
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Poster of Costa Llobera by Joan Miró. Manufactured in Spain, circa 1981. In original condition with minor wear consistent of age and use, preserving a beautiful patina. Materials:...
Category

1980s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Rose Wylie Portfolio of 66 Lithographs, 2016
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Rose Wylie artwork made in 2016. Portfolio of 66 Lithographs. Title, Things around the house. Edition of 20. Numbered and hand signed in pencil. Number of edition and signature from the artist might differ from the photo shown. For each new body of work, Rose Wylie selects a particular subject—photos of athletes...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Pair Of Oil Portraits From The 19th Century Italy XIX th
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair Of Oil Portraits From The 19th Century Italy XIX Eme Pair of oil portraits from 1879 signed: Armani. Italy 19th century. Oil on canvas. Very good general condition. Measurements...
Category

1870s Antique Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood

Art Deco Lacquered Wood Panel Signed Qt
Located in Madrid, ES
Art Deco Lacquered Wood Panel Signed Qt Decorative panel from the art deco period signed with the initials QT. The technique used is cutting. G...
Category

1920s Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood

Italian School of the 17th Cent."Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist"
By Europa Antiques
Located in Madrid, ES
Italian School of the Sec. XVII "SALOME WITH THE HEAD OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST" Oil on copper. Dim.: 22 x 15 cm good conditions.
Category

17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paint

1970s Jaime Parlade Designer Hand Painting "Tiger" Oil on Canvas
Located in Marbella, ES
1970s Jaime Parlade Designer Hand Painting "Tiger" Oil on Canvas
Category

Late 20th Century Indian Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Fabric

Reflexion Thais tableau - Natural fiber, wall decoration, golden color, organic
By Gabriela de Sagarminaga Roldán
Located in Bilbao, PV
Interspersing circular and grid shapes, Thaïs balances masculinity and femininity in equal parts. This large tableau is a symbol that shows a different way of working with vegetable ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Organic Modern Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Natural Fiber, Wood

Vibrant Expression: Joan Miro's Color Lithography, 1964
By Joan Miró
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Discover the captivating world of Joan Miró's artistry through an exceptional piece: a color lithography from 1964, prominently featured as the cover of "Album 19." This artistic tre...
Category

1960s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Sandro Abstract Paint, circa 2017
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Sandro Abstract Paint, circa 2017. Manufactured in Spain. Materials: Wood Dimensions: D 3,3 cm x W 10 cm x H 15,9 cm The artwork is in its original condition, showing minor sign...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood

Tapestry Brutalist Macrame, Spain 1980s
Located in DÉNIA, ES
Modern Design ! Neo Classique ! bohemian decor, macramé wall hangings should be at the top of your list. These lightweight, airy pieces are typically made with natural materials (thi...
Category

1980s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Wool, Cord

Waldo Balart Set of Seven Lithographs, 2021
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Waldo Baylart artwork made in 2021. Set of 7 Lithographies. Title, Untitled Edition of 20. Numbered and hand signed in pencil. Number of edition and signature from the artist might...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Wall Kitchen Decor Brass Midcentury Vintage Kitchen Utensils Hanging, Spain
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
Embossed brass, wood and leather chimney bellows or blower It is a decorative and functional piece. It blows, but it doesn't have much power, just enough for its size and functiona...
Category

Early 20th Century Spanish Other Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Brass

“Als Mestres De Catalunya”, Antoni Tapies, 1974
By Antoni Tàpies
Located in Madrid, ES
“Als Mestres de Catalunya”, 1974 Antoni Tapies. (Barcelona 1923-2012) Serigraphy on Guarro paper Signed on pencil 1. A. (Artist Test) Dimensions: 242 x 127 cm. Estampa Alexandre To...
Category

1970s Spanish Expressionist Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Paint, Paper

Ryan McGinness Set of Ten Lithographs, 2016
By Ryan McGinness
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Ryan McGinness artwork made in 2016. Set of 10 Lithographs. Title, Studio View Edition of 10. Numbered and hand signed in pencil. Number of edition and signature from the artist mi...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

RCR Tryptych of Three Photoetchings and Lavis, 2018
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
RCR artwork made in 2018. Triptych of 3 photoetchings and lavis. Title, Without title 1. Edition of 10. Numbered and hand signed by artists. Number of edition and signature from th...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Lithograph Poster by Georges Braque, Musée D'art Moderne- Céret, France, 1983
By (after) Georges Braque
Located in Madrid, ES
Original Lithograph Poster by Georges Braque, printed by Atelier Mourlot, created for the 1983 Braque exhibition at Musée d’Art Moderne in Céret, France. Georges Braque (1882-1963)...
Category

1980s French Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper, Wood

Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom " Naval Battle " 17th Century Attributed
By Europa Antiques
Located in Madrid, ES
Hendrik Cornelisz. Vroom (Haarlem, ca. 1562–Haarlem, 1640) "Naval Battle" Attributed oil on canvas first cloth 60cm x 120cm clean and some restorations Vroom was a Dutch Baroque pai...
Category

17th Century Dutch Baroque Antique Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paint

Painting Carved In Sea Foam 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
The 19th century meerschaum carved painting is an elegant and exceptional piece depicting a scene with a female figure surrounded by putti. This work of art carved from sea foam is an impressive example of 19th-century decorative art in France. The attention to detail and delicacy with which this piece was carved is truly remarkable. The female figure and the putti are represented with a grace and precision which reflect the artistic talent of the sculptor. The texture of the sea foam adds an element of lightness and delicacy to the composition. The painting has total dimensions of 36x36 cm, with the central scene having a diameter of 12 cm. This proportion offers a harmonious visual balance which highlights the central scene without overwhelming the whole. This work of art evokes the aesthetic and artistic sensibility of 19th century France. The depiction of the female figure surrounded by putti adds a layer of symbolism and emotion to the piece, creating a captivating visual experience. In summary, this 19th century carved sea foam painting...
Category

1890s Antique Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Stone

Cielo Wall Shelf, Large Walnut
By Woodendot
Located in Madrid, Madrid
Our Cielo Shelf is a unique minimalist wall piece perfect for placing decoration with a careful design that highlights its wood vein and includes a front ledge. Its design is complem...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Minimalist Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood

Sandro Abstract Paint, circa 2015
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Sandro Abstract Paint, circa 2015. Manufactured in Spain. Materials: Wood Dimensions: D 4,7 cm x W 22,5 cm x H 27 cm The artwork is in its original condition, showing minor sign...
Category

2010s Spanish Modern Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood

Modern Sculptural Concave Glass French Mirror
Located in Madrid, ES
Sculptural concave mirror with convex lens, handcrafted with molded glass making each piece unique. Anchors in bronze, France. Our main target is customer satisfaction, so we includ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Brass

Sandro Abstract Paint, circa 2015
By Sandro
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Sandro Abstract Paint, circa 2015. Manufactured in Germany. Materials: Wood Dimensions: D 3,7 cm x W 10 cm x H 16 cm The artwork is in its original condition, showing minor sign...
Category

2010s German Modern Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood

Hand-Painted Landscape Painting on Canvas with Trees and Different Animals
Located in Marbella, ES
Hand-Painted Landscape Painting on Canvas with Trees and Different Animals
Category

Late 20th Century Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Abalone, Fabric

"DADA Documenting a Movement" 1958 Publication
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
'DADA: Documenting a Movement' original title 'DADA: Dokumente einer Bewegung' book by various authors. Published by Art Association for the Rhineland and Westphalia (Germany). Manu...
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

Tapestry Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, Louis XVI period 1738 at the Gobelins
By Aubusson Manufacture
Located in Madrid, ES
Tapestry from the Royal Manufacture of Aubusson, Louis XVI period , made in 1738 at the Gobelins One panel from a series of Gobelins tapestries depicting the History of Esther, illustrating Esther seated and attended by handmaidens, one washing her feet in golden basin, another fastening a bracelet, another offering a mirror, all observed by Mordecai, woven in the workshop of Michele Audran after a design by J. F. de Troy. The Toilet of Esther c.1778-85.Royal Collection Trust-Queens Audience Chamber Windsor Castle The Sketches for the Esther Cycle by Jean-François de Troy (1736) “and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mor’decai, ..., took for his own daughter.” (Est. 2:7) A supple and undulating genius, both a flattering portraitist and a prolix history painter, as well as a brilliant genre painter, in a gallant or worldly vein, Jean-François de Troy (Paris, 1679 – Rome, 1752), solicited, although he had passed the threshold of old age, a new royal commission up to his ambitions. To obtain it, he submitted – successfully - for the approval of the Bâtiments du roi (administration), seven modelli painted in 1736 with his usual alacrity. Inspired by one of the most novelistic texts of the Old Testament, the Book of Esther, these sketches in a rapid and virtuoso manner were transformed by the artist, between 1737 and 1740 into large cartoons intended to serve as models for the weavers of the Gobelins factory. Showing undeniable ease and skill in the composition in perfect harmony with the sensitivities of the times, the tapestry set met with great success. The Story of Esther perfectly corresponded to the plan of the Bâtiments du roi to renew the repertoire of tapestry models used for the weavers of the royal factories while it also conformed to the tastes of Louis XV’s subjects for a fantastical Orient, the set for a dramatic tale in which splendour, love and death were combined. Indeed, no tapestry set was woven in France during the 18th century as often as that of Esther. The series of modelli painted by de Troy during the year 1736 looks to the history of French painting and decoration under Louis XV as much as it does the history of the Gobelins. It probably counts among the most important rococo pictorial groups to have remained in private hands. First the Biblical source illustrated by De Troy which constitutes the base of one of the richest iconographical traditions of Western art will be considered. Then the circumstances and specific character of French civilisation during the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV which contributed to making the theme of Esther a relevant subject, both attractive to contemporaries and remarkably in line with the sensitivities of the time will be elucidated. An examination of the exceptional series of sketches united here, the cartoons and the tapestries that they anticipate as well as a study of their reception will close this essay. The Book of Esther: A scriptural source at the source of rich iconography. The origin of the Esther tapestry set by Jean-François de Troy – origin and creation of a masterpiece According to the evidence of one of the artist’s early biographers, the chevalier de Valory, author of a posthumous elegy of the master, read at the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture on 6 February 1762, it was apparently due to early16 rivalry with François Lemoyne (1688-1737), his younger colleague who had precisely just been appointed First Painter to the King in 1736, that had encouraged François de Troy to seek a commission allowing him to show off his ease and his promptitude at the expense of a rival who was notoriously laborious: “M. De Troy, retaining some resentment of the kind of disadvantage which he believed to have suffered compared with his emulator looked to regain some territory by making use of the facility his rival did not possess. Lemoyne was excessively long in the creation of his works,and M. De Troy of a rare celerity: consequently, with this particular talent, the latter offered to the court to make paintings appropriate to be executed at the Gobelins Factory; and it is to this circumstance that we owe the beautiful series of the Story of Esther, which would be sufficient alone to give him a great reputation.”17 Beyond the suspicion inspired by the topos, which still constitutes, more or less, a tale of rivalries between artists in ancient literature, there is probably some truth in what Valory reports although A.-J. Dezalier d’Argenville (who indicates rather spitefully that de Troy did not hesitate to “cut prices” to impose himself, benefitting from the productivity assured by the unlikely rapidity of his brush)18 proves to be more evasive: “As he looked to busy himself, he had offered to make the paintings that serve as models for the King’s tapestries cheaply: which did not please his colleagues. He was given a choice of two tapestry series to be made and he took the Story of Esther and that of Jason”.19 Whether or not the choice was actually left to de Troy (which would appear rather casual on the royal administration’s part all the same), it seems likely that the artist, whose contemporaries extol his “fire”, as the faculty of invention was then called, must have ardently aspired to the possibility of using on a very large scale the “creative genius” with which Dezallier d’Argenville credits him. The decoration of the private apartments, the fashion for which Louis XV had promoted at Versailles and Fontainebleau, offered little opportunity to excel in this area. Other than painting for altarpieces, only tapestries could allow comparison with Lemoyne who had been granted – unfortunately for him – a major decoration: the enormous ceiling of the Hercules Room at Versailles. Favoured by the recent improvement in France’s financial situation, the revival of patronage offered de Troy a commission fitting for him, in a field in which, however, he had hardly any experience. Anxious to renew the repertoire of models available to the Gobelins factory, the Duc d’Antin, surintendant des Bâtiments du roi from 1708 to 1736 followed by his successor, Philibert Orry comte de Vignory, gave him the task of producing seven large cartoons inspired by the Book of Esther corresponding to the brilliant sketches or modelli which de Troy had produced in one go, or almost (very few preparatory drawings can in fact be linked to the Esther cycle and all seem to be at the execution stage of the cartoons).20 Subjected to the approval of the Administration des Bâtiments according to the procedure in use for projects being planned for the Gobelins, sketches made rapidly during 1736 were approved and the project launched immediately. Thereupon came the news of François Lemoyne’s death, who, ground down by work and a victim of his private torment, committed suicide on 4 June 1737. Against all expectations, de Troy did not replace his rival in the position of First Painter (which remained vacant until the appointment of Charles Coypel in January 1747), which would perhaps have made him too obviously the beneficiary of the drama. The awarding of the position of Director of the French Academy in Rome came to console him while he had already produced (or he was in the process of finishing), in Paris, three of the seven cartoons of the cycle (The Fainting of Esther finished in 1737 and the Toilet and Coronation of Esther, both finished in 1738). De Troy, we can see, did not follow the order of the narrative but began with the subjects which apparently offered the least difficulty because he had already depicted them, or because they fall into a strong pictorial tradition (such is the case especially for the Fainting of Esther). He had hardly settled at the Palazzo Mancini in August 1738, when his first task which awaited the new director of the French Academy naturally consisted of honouring the royal commission and finishing without delay the final cartoons of the Story of Esther after the sketches he must have taken with him. As prompt as ever, de Troy discharged himself of the execution of the four remaining cartoons in only two years, by beginning with the largest format which allowed him to strike the imagination and to impose himself as soon as he arrived on the Roman stage: the Triumph of Mor’decai which was finished in 1739 (like Esther’s Banquet). The following year, the Mor’decai's Disdain and The Sentencing of Haman were brought to an end in the same Neo-Venetian style, obviously tributary to Veronese with its choice of “open” monumental architecture which is characteristic of the entire cycle.21 The series, it should be noted, was almost augmented with some additional scenes in the mid 1740s. Indeed, the first tapestry set finished at the Gobelins in 1744 proved to be unsuitable for the arrangement of the Dauphine’s apartments at Versailles for which it had been intended to decorate the walls the following year (cf infra). Informed of this, de Troy, considering that the story of Esther offered “several good subjects,” immediately offered to illustrate one or new subject among those “which could appear to be the most interesting”. The directeur des Bâtiments Orry, who managed the State’s accounts, obviously judged it less costly to have one of the tapestries widened to fill in the end of the Dauphine’s bedroom,22 which has probably deprived us of very original compositions, because de Troy had already illustrated the most famous themes, those that benefitted from a strongly established iconographical tradition and from which it was not easy to deviate The Tapestry Set of the Story of Esther Placed on the tapestry looms of the Gobelins at the end of the 1730s in Michel Audran’s workshop, the cycle created by de Troy aroused true infatuation. The few hundred tapestries made between 1738 and 1797 – all in high-warp tapestry and woven in wool and silk except for four in low-warp made in Neilson’s workshop – show the impressive success of a tapestry set that was without any doubt the most frequently woven of the 18th century in France. 29 Only three cartoons had been delivered by de Troy in 1738 when the first tapestry set was begun by Audran under the expert eye of Jean-Baptiste Oudry to whom the Directeur général des bâtiments, Philibert Orry had assigned the (weekly) supervision of the weaving. During the summer of 1738, the piece of the Fainting of Esther, which Oudry judged to be admirable, was finished. During the winter of 1742, Oudry informed Orry that about two ells of the Triumph of Mor’decai had been made “with no faults”,that the Coronation of Esther was finished and that the Esther at her Toilet “a very gracious tapestry” was “a little over half” finished. Exhibited at Versailles in 1743, these two last pieces were admired by Louis XV and the Court. On 3 December 1744, the set of seven tapestries was finally delivered to the Garde Meuble. It was intended, the honour was not slight, to decorate the apartments of the Infanta Maria Teresa Rafaela of Spain whose marriage to the young Dauphin Louis-Ferdinand had been fixed for the following year (it took place on 23 February 1745). Apparently it was thought that the theme of Esther the biblical heroine and wife of a foreign sovereign was appropriate for the apartments of the Spanish Dauphine. As early as the month of March, the architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel informed de Troy that her grand cabinet was decorated with the “Esther tapestry set” specifying however that “for lack of two small or one large piece, we have not been able to decorate the end of the room”. This difficulty led immediately to the Banquet episode being woven a second time in two parts (they were delivered to the Garde-Meuble on 30 December 1746) to garnish the panels on each side of the bed of the Dauphine who would hardly enjoy them (she died on 22 July 1746 and the decoration was installed for the new Dauphine Maria Josepha of Saxony). The appearance of the set’s remarkable border, which imitated a richly sculpted wooden frame, should be mentioned. Conceived in 1738 by the ornamentalist Pierre Josse-Perrot and used in the later weavings until 1768, it tended to reinforce the resolutely painterly appearance of the tapestry set which, in this regard, pushed the art of tapestry as far as its ultimate mimetic possibilities. With the exception of Mor’decai's Disdain which had been removed earlier, the “editio princeps” of the story of Esther (from then on in nine pieces) remained at Versailles until the Revolution. Of the eight surviving tapestries, four are at the chateau of Compiègne and four belong today to the Mobilier National. No less than seven tapestry sets reputed to be complete (one of them in fact only had six tapestries) would be produced officially at the Gobelins up to 1772. Literature: 1- The Œuvres mêlées of an emulator of Racine, the Abbé Augustin NADAL thus include an Esther. Divertissement spiritual which is exactly contemporary with Jean François de Troy’s cycle since it was performed in 1735 and published in Paris three years later. 2-Le Siècle de Louis XIV, 1751, 1785 ed., p. 96-97 for French ed. 3- Lemoyne and de Troy had been obliged to share the First Prize in the competition organised in 1727 between the most prominent history painters of the Académie Royale. 4- Mémoires…, pub. L. DUSSIEUX et al., 1854, II, p.265. 5-The fact that de Troy, at the risk of falling out with his colleagues, did not hesitate to make use of prices in order to convince the new directeur des Bâtiments Philibert Orry, is confirmed by Mariette who adds tersely “it caused much shouting” (pub. 1851-1860, II, p. 103). 6- Abrégé de la vie des plus fameux peintres…, ed. 1762, IV, p. 368-369 20 Early comments on the painter are inclined to present him as a kind of “pure painter”, doing without the medium of drawing, a few intermediary studies between the Esther sketches and the large cartoons at the Louvre nevertheless show that de Troy used red chalk (see in the catalogue, the notice for the Meal of Esther and Ahasuerus under the entry drawing) to change one or other figure. 7-C. GASTINEL-COURAL (cat. exp. PARIS, 1985, p. 9-13) as well as the article by J. VITTET, exh. cat. LA ROCHE-GUYON, 2001, p. 51-55. 8-The Hermitage in St. Petersburg conserves five tapestries of these two royal gifts whose provenance still awaits elucidation (as far as we are aware). In 1766, the Grand Marshal of Russia, Count Razumovski (or Razamowski), acquired the Fainting and the Banquet extracted from the sixth weaving (J. VITTET, 2001, p. 53). 9- Lettres écrites de Suisse, d’Italie…,quoted by J. VITTET, op. cit., p. 54. 10-The tapestry set remained in the hands of a branch of the Hapsburg-Lorraine family until 1933 (ibid. P. 54). 11-Quoted by Chr. LERIBAULT, 2002, p. 97, note 269. 12-Y. CANTAREL-BESSON, 1992, p. 241. Catalogue The Esther at her Toilet Oil on canvas, 57 x 51 cm Provenance: Painted in 1736 at the same time as the six other modelli of the Story of Esther intended to be presented, for approval, to the direction des Bâtiments du Roi; perhaps identifiable among a lot of sketches by Jean-François de Troy in the post mortem inventory of the amateur, historian and critic Claude-Henri Watelet (1718-1786) drawn up on 13 January 1786 and following days (A.N. T 978, n° 30) then in the sale of the property of the deceased, Paris, 12 June 1786, n° 33; Paris, François Marcille Collection (who owned a series of six sketches from which the Triumph of Mor’decai was missing, see infra); Paris, Marcille Sale, Hôtel Drouot, 12-13 January 1857, n° 36; Asnières, Mme de Chavanne de Palmassy ( ?) collection; Paris, Galerie Cailleux; Paris, Humbert de Wendel collection (acquired from the Galerie Cailleux in 1928); by inheritance in the same family; Paris, Sotheby’s, 23 June 2011, n° 61. In order not to add unnecessarily to the technical commentary on each work, the catalogue raisonné by Chr. Leribault which contains a substantial bibliography on the series should be referred to. The other bibliographical references only concern the publications and exhibitions to have appeared and been presented more recently. Bibliography and Exhibitions: Chr. LERIBAULT, 2002, n° P. 247 (repr.); E. LIMARDO DATURI, 2004, p. 28; Exh. cat. NANTES, 2011, p. 138, n° 34, referred to in note 1; Sotheby’s catalogue, Tableaux anciens et du XIXe siècle, 23 June 2011, n° 61 (repr.). Related Works: Tapestry cartoon: The cartoon (oil on canvas, 329 x 320 cm), the third made by the artist in Paris after the sketches had been approved by the direction des Bâtiments, is in the Louvre (Inv. 8315). It previously bore the painter’s signature and the date 1738 (inscriptions which are found on the tapestries). The royal administration paid 1600 livres for it on 21 June 1738 and it was exhibited at the Salon in the year of its creation. Summary Biography 1679 (27 January): Baptism in Paris (Parish of St. Nicolas du Chardonnet) of Jean-François de Troy, son of the painter François de Troy and Jeanne Cotelle, sister of the painter Jean II Cotelle. 1696-1698: Studies (apparently rather turbulent) at the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture. 1698-1708: First trip to Italy. Is obliged to leave Rome in January 1711 after a tempestuous affair (a duel?), de Troy extends the traditional Roman experience as a pensionnaire at the Académie de France by also visiting Tuscany where he stays for a long time, Venice (his art in face has a strongly Venetian character) and Genoa. 1708: De Troy (whose father had been elected Director of the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture on 7 July) is agréé and immediately received at the Académie with Apollo and Diana Piercing with their Arrows the Children of Niobe (Montpellier, Musée Fabre) on 28 July. 1710: First royal commission, paid for on 10 May (a sketch representing “the Promotion of the Order of the Holy Spirit” for the tapestry series of the History of the King). 1716: Jean-François de Troy is elected Assistant Professor at the Academy. 1720: He is appointed Professor. 1723: The artist creates the double portrait of Louis XV...
Category

Early 18th Century French Baroque Antique Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Silk, Wool

"DADA Documenting a Movement" 1958 Publication
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
'DADA: Documenting a Movement' original title 'DADA: Dokumente einer Bewegung' book by various authors. Published by Art Association for the Rhineland and Westphalia (Germany). Manu...
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Paper

19th Century Picture Printed on Paper Spanish Scene with Framed
Located in Marbella, ES
19th Century Picture Printed on Paper Spanish Scene with Framed
Category

19th Century Spanish Antique Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Paper

19th Century Picture Printed on Paper Spanish Scene with Framed
Located in Marbella, ES
19th Century Picture Printed on Paper Spanish Scene with Framed
Category

19th Century Spanish Antique Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Paper

19th Century Picture Printed on Paper Spanish Scene with Framed
Located in Marbella, ES
19th Century Picture Printed on Paper Spanish Scene with Framed
Category

19th Century Spanish Antique Spain - Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Paper

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